Last March 16, with the State of Alarm decreed on both sides of the Bidasoa borders were closed and controlled steps began at the international bridges of the Bidasoa, as well as at the other border crossings.
A few weeks later, on April 12, some of the border crossings such as Behobia were closed, Ibardin, Lizuniaga, Lizarrieta, Sara and Izpegi. The Santiago Bridge, next to the highway pass in Biriatou, were the two open passes in the region. Until a few days ago, confinement measures have allowed Santiago to smoothly absorb cross-border traffic.
However, In recent days, with the entry into new phases of de-escalation on both sides of the muga, traffic has increased considerably and this greatly complicates the Santiago border crossing..
“Economic activity has recovered, the face-to-face work of many companies, they open the shops on both sides and school begins. Understanding that the citizens of both sides of the Bidasoa in their daily life do activities interchangeably on both sides of the border, the steps through Santiago multiply and the queues too. “ The Mayors of Irun José Antonio Santano and Hendaye Kotte Ecenarro explained.
With this reality on the table, both mayors have joined forces to ask the two states to be sensitive to the cross-border situation and to adopt small gestures, such as reopening all border crossings, to facilitate the passage and avoid the queues that are occurring and that the roads of both cities collapse beyond the cross-border crossing itself.
Santano has promised to forward his request to the government delegate, while his Hendayean namesake will do the same with the Prefect.
Cross-border sensitivity
In addition, the first councilors have requested greater coordination in information to these cross-border municipalities so that communication to their neighbors regarding the restrictive measures on either side or the required documentation for the border crossing can be improved.
Too economic activity worries in these municipalities, where in some cases, there is establishments and areas totally dedicated to cross-border trade and opening without customer mobility will be like being closed.
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